[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82897-82898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26080]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-24-0260]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information 
collection request titled ``Health Hazard Evaluations/Technical 
Assistance and Emerging Problems'' to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a 
``Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations'' notice on August 1, 2023 to obtain comments from the 
public and affected agencies. CDC did not receive comments related to 
the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days 
for public and affected agency comments.
    CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information 
collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly 
interested in comments that:
    (a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected;
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses; and
    (e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Direct 
written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in 
this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management 
and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 
395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice 
publication.

Proposed Project

    Health Hazard Evaluations/Technical Assistance and Emerging 
Problems (OMB Control No. 0920-0260, Exp. 3/31/2024)--Revision--
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    In accordance with its mandates under the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, 
NIOSH responds to requests for a Health Hazare Evaluation (HHE) to 
identify chemical, biological or physical hazards in workplaces 
throughout the United States. Each year, NIOSH receives approximately 
250 such requests although that number has been lower in recent years 
presumably due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most HHE requests come from 
workplaces in the following industrial sectors: services, 
manufacturing, health and social services, transportation, and 
construction.
    A printed HHE request form is available in English and in Spanish. 
The form is also available on the internet and differs from the printed 
version only in format and in the fact that it can be submitted 
directly from the website. The request form takes an estimated 12 
minutes to complete. The form provides the mechanism for employees,

[[Page 82898]]

employers, and other authorized representatives to supply the 
information required by the regulations governing the NIOSH HHE program 
(42 CFR 85.3-1). NIOSH reviews the HHE request to determine if an on-
site evaluation is needed. The primary purpose of an on-site evaluation 
is to help employers and employees identify and eliminate occupational 
health hazards. For approximately 25% of the requests received NIOSH 
determines an on-site evaluation is needed.
    Using previous HHE program experience and data, approximately 73% 
of on-site evaluations include employees that are interviewed in an 
informal manner to help further define concerns. Interviews may take 
approximately 15 minutes per respondent. The interview questions are 
specific to each workplace and its suspected diseases and hazards. 
However, interviews are based on standard medical practices. In 
approximately 37% of on-site evaluations, questionnaires are 
distributed or administered by NIOSH staff to employees. Questionnaires 
may require approximately 30 minutes to complete. The survey questions 
are specific to each workplace, and its suspected diseases and hazards; 
however, items in the questionnaires are derived from standardized or 
widely used medical and epidemiologic data collection instruments. 
Approximately five (6%) of the on-site evaluations involve medical 
tests or the collection of biological samples that would require 
informed consent. The estimated time to complete the informed consent 
process is 30 minutes. If 30 employees are monitored at each of the 
five work sites, the burden from this activity is 75 hours.
    Approximately 73% of the on-site evaluations involve employee 
exposure monitoring in the workplace. Employees participating in on-
site evaluations by wearing a sampling or monitoring device to measure 
personal workplace exposures are offered the opportunity to receive 
notification of their exposure results. To indicate their preference 
and, if interested, provide contact information, employees complete a 
contact information post card or form. Completing the contact card or 
form may take five minutes or less. The number of employees monitored 
for workplace exposures per on-site evaluation is estimated to be 25 
per site.
    NIOSH distributes interim and final reports of HHEs, excluding 
personal identifiers, to the following: requesters, employers, employee 
representatives; the Department of Labor (Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration or Mine Safety and Health Administration, as 
appropriate); state health departments; and, as needed, other state and 
federal agencies. NIOSH administers a followback program to assess the 
effectiveness of its HHE program in reducing workplace hazards. This 
program entails the distribution of followback surveys to employer and 
employee representatives at all the workplaces where NIOSH conducted an 
on-site evaluation. In a small number of instances, a followback on-
site evaluation may be completed. The first followback survey is sent 
shortly after the first visit for an on-site evaluation and takes about 
10 minutes to complete. A second followback survey is sent after the 
final report is completed and requires about 20 minutes to complete. At 
12 months, a third followback survey is sent, which takes about 15 
minutes to complete. For requests where NIOSH does not conduct an on-
site evaluation, the requestor receives the first followback survey 
after our response letter is sent and a second one 12 months after our 
response. The first survey takes about 10 minutes to complete, and the 
second survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.
    Because of the number of investigations conducted each year, the 
need to respond quickly to requests for assistance, the diverse and 
unpredictable nature of these investigations, and its followback 
program to assess evaluation effectiveness, NIOSH requests a 
consolidated clearance for data collections performed within the domain 
of its HHE program. The total estimated burden hours are 2267 hours. 
There is no cost to respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                       Average
                                                                         Number of      Number of     burden per
           Type of respondents                      Form name           respondents   responses per    response
                                                                                       respondent     (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employees and Representatives............  Health Hazard Evaluation             175               1        12/60
                                            Request Form.
Employers \*\............................  Health Hazard Evaluation              75               1        12/60
                                            Request Form.
Employees................................  Health Hazard Evaluation           1,710               1        15/60
                                            Specific Interview Example.
Employees................................  Health Hazard Evaluation           2,900               1        30/60
                                            Specific Questionnaire
                                            Example.
Employees................................  HHE specific Informed                150               1        30/60
                                            Consent Form.
Employees................................  Contact Information Post           1,425               1         5/60
                                            Card.
Employees and Representatives; Employers-- First Followback Survey....          140               1        10/60
 Year 1 (on-site evaluation).
Employees and Representatives; Employers-- Second Followback Survey...          140               1        20/60
 Year 1(on-site evaluation).
Employees and Representatives; Employers-- Third Followback Survey....          140               1        15/60
 Year 2 (on-site evaluation).
Employees and Representatives Year 1       First Followback Survey....           94               1        10/60
 (without on-site evaluation).
Employees and Representatives Year 2       Second Followback Survey...           94               1        15/60
 (without on-site evaluation).
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Jeffrey M. Zirger,
Lead, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Public Health 
Ethics and Regulations, Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2023-26080 Filed 11-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P